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Vladimir Putin's daughter identified by opponentNew York Daily NewsShe is known but rarely spoken about. But an opponent of Vladimir Putin has published on his Facebook page the name of one of the Russian leader's daughters, Yekaterina, reports the Telegraph. Alexei Navalny says the 28-year-old heads an organization ...

Staunton, February 1 – There are denials, “non-denial denials,” and then denials that have the effect of confirming exactly what those doing the denying are seeking to disown and providing additional information as well.A classical example of the last is provided by the head of Kremlin think tank who was trying to undercut the revelations of one of his former staffers.

That admission came in the course of a press release from RISI director Leonid Reshetnikov, a retired lieutenant general, concerning statements by Aleksandr Sytin, his former staffer, about RISI’s involvement in planning the Russian Anschluss of Crimea and the war in the Donbas and its current appeals for forming “pro-Russian” groups in Belarus on the basis of ties with the security agencies in that country (riss.ru/news/4173#.VM4FGY0o7IX).

Reshetnikov clearly intended his remarks to undercut what Sytin had said, but in fact, the director’s words serve to confirm in large measure what the Russian analyst has said. Thus, as Kirillova notes, during the course of 2014, the director said, “the institute … prepared more than 600 analytic materials for those involved in the foreign policy of our country.”

In response, the former general said, the institute and its staff “received for many of them a highly positive assessment from the policy making organs of the government.”Clearly, at least in Reshetnikov’s mind, RISI is not one voice among many but a key player in the policy process in Moscow.

More than that, it continues to play a role far beyond Ukraine. Reshetnikov noted that RISI analysts have “devoted great attention to the situation” in other former Soviet republics and beyond and to economic problems as well.

And lest anyone think that RISI is out on its own, Reshetnikov concludes his statement with the observation that his institute “occupies a correct government position, and with complete conviction,” he says, “we will continue this line!” – words that should worry anyone concerned about the aggressive positions he and RISI have taken up to now.

»Whither the Ukrainian Far Right?01/02/15 17:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from The InterpreterThe Interpreter. Introduction The early presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine that took place in May and October 2014, respectively proved to be disastrous for the Ukrainian pa...

»Bomb on Bus in Damascus Kills Seven01/02/15 17:32 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from WSJ.com: World News. A bomb exploded on a bus near Damascus’ medieval city center, killing at least seven people, including Lebanese Shiite pilgrims, according to Syrian activists and Lebanese media.

»Pegida: Germany’s useful idiots01/02/15 16:45 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from Network Front | The Guardian. With its populist anti-Muslim, anti-immigration agenda, the Pegida protests have convulsed Germany. When novelist Ingo Schulze attended one of their weekly demonstrations, he ...

»13 Soldiers Killed in Eastern Ukraine01/02/15 12:57 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Authorities in Kiev say at least 13 Ukrainian soldiers, and seven civilians, Ukrainian officials say 13 soldiers have been killed over the past 24 hours in fighting in the past day during...

»U.S. vs. Russia - Military Might01/02/15 09:30 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from Comments on: U.S. vs. Russia – Military Might. Which of the two superpowers has the greater military provisions? US or Russia? The historical relationship between the United States and Russia can hardly be...

»Putin Family Values - Bloomberg View31/01/15 19:22 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from Putin - Google News. Bloomberg View Putin Family Values Bloomberg View Russian President Vladimir Putin has always been extremely secretive about his two daughters, so much so that it's daughters. It's bee...

»Putin and the story of the rat31/01/15 15:50 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from Military & Defense Contributors. The Russian president is stepping up both the war in Ukraine and his confrontational rhetoric against NATO and the West. In a book of interviews published when he first...

»Russia GDP Seen Shrinking 3% in 201531/01/15 13:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from WSJ.com: World News. Russia’s economy minister said Saturday that the country’s gross domestic product is expected to shrink by 3% in 2015 with oil prices at $50 a barrel and an estimated capital outflow a...

»Russia and Ukraine - The Economist31/01/15 12:41 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. The Economist Russia and Ukraine The Economist IN A book of interviews published when he first became Russia's president, Vladimir Putin told a story of his early scares: a rat he had...

»Kerry to Visit Ukraine, Germany31/01/15 12:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from Voice of America. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Ukraine and Germany next week for talks with officials, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. State Department spokeswoman Je...